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Italian restaurant set to open in Pensacola

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Wednesday morning Father Joseph Callipare, from the Basilica of St. Michael the Archangel, blesses the front of V. Paul's Italian Ristorante soon to open in downtown Pensacola at 29 Palafox Place. Bruce Graner/bgraner@pnj.com Bruce Graner/bgraner@pnj.com

Father Joseph Callipare, foreground, blesses V. Paul's Italian Ristorante and staff as they work to prepare for the opening of the restaurant in downtown Pensacola in the next few weeks. Bruce Graner/bgraner@pnj.com Bruce Graner/bgraner@pnj.com

Father Joseph Callipare, foreground, looks over the menu for V. Paul's Ristorante after blessing the restaurtant Wednesday morning. V. Paul's is scheduled to open in downtown Pensacola in the next few weeks. Bruce Graner/bgraner@pnj.com Bruce Graner/bgraner@pnj.com

Paul Bruno of V. Paul's Italian Ristorante is shown in the almost-ready-to-open restaurant located at 29 Palafox Place in downtown Pensacola. The restaurant offers several dining venues from the bar, shown here, to more informal dining with a view of Palafox Place in downtown Pensacola to more secluded dining are in the distant background in this photo. Father Joseph Callipare stopped by Wednesday morning to bless the restaurant that should open in a few weeks. Bruce Graner/bgraner@pnj.com Bruce Graner/bgraner@pnj.com

Paul Bruno of V. Paul's Italian Ristorante is shown in the almost-ready-to-open restaurant located at 29 Palafox Place in downtown Pensacola. The restaurant offers several dining venues from the bar, shown here, to more informal dining with a view of Palafox Place in downtown Pensacola to more secluded dining are in the distant background in this photo. Father Joseph Callipare stopped by Wednesday morning to bless the restaurant that should open in a few weeks. Bruce Graner/bgraner@pnj.com Bruce Graner/bgraner@pnj.com

Wednesday morning Father Joseph Callipare of the Basilica of St. Michael the Archangel, prepares to bless V. Paul's Italian Ristorante that is preparing to open soon at 29 Palafox Place. The "Book of Blessings" is open in the foreground of photo. Bruce Graner/bgraner@pnj.com Bruce Graner/bgraner@pnj.com

Wednesday morning Father Joseph Callipare of the Basilica of St. Michael the Archangel, prepares to bless V. Paul's Italian Ristorante that is preparing to open soon at 29 Palafox Place. Bruce Graner/bgraner@pnj.com Bruce Graner/bgraner@pnj.com

Wednesday morning Father Joseph Callipare of the Basilica of St. Michael the Archangel, prepares to bless V. Paul's Italian Ristorante that is preparing to open soon at 29 Palafox Place. The "Book of Blessings" is shown in this photo. Bruce Graner/bgraner@pnj.com Bruce Graner/bgraner@pnj.com

The Rev. Joseph Callipare moved through the space quickly, sprinkling holy water in every room, on every wall and on the doors.

V. Paul's Italian Restaurant opens early next month on Palafox Place, but Wednesday, restaurant owners already were trying to bring good grace to the 11,000-square-foot restaurant a few weeks before patrons say grace before meals.

"Let us pray for God's help through this celebration," said Callipare, rector of the Basilica of St. Michael the Archangel on Palafox. "That God will bring this construction to successful completion and his protection will keep safe those who work here and come to enjoy meals here."

Callipare read from the Catholic Book of Blessings, reading blessings from two sections: "Blessings Related to Buildings" and "Blessings of a New Building Site."

"There's not a blessing of a restaurant," said Callipare, whose own grandparents were born in Italy. "So we have to improvise."

Paul Bruno Jr., one of the owners of V. Paul's, attends the Basilica of St. Michael the Archangel.

"I was raised Catholic, and we just thought this would a great way to start our restaurant," Bruno said. "All Italian meals start off with a prayer."

Before the blessing, Callipare was looking for another starter.

"Is the Espresso machine connected?"

V. Paul's is owned by Bruno and Dave Hambrick, who also owns Jaco's Bayfront Bar & Grille on Palafox. The chef is Trish Horton, who is Italian on her father's side.

The restaurant is named after Bruno's father, Dr. Vincent Paul Bruno.

"He was a hell of a cook, too," Bruno said.

And apparently, Callipare is too. After perusing the menu, he and Horton spent a few minutes sharing recipes, with Callipare doing most of the talking.